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World J Obstet Gynecol. Feb 10, 2014; 3(1): 7-13
Published online Feb 10, 2014. doi: 10.5317/wjog.v3.i1.7
Published online Feb 10, 2014. doi: 10.5317/wjog.v3.i1.7
Desmopressin for the treatment of female storage lower urinary tract symptoms
Konstantinos Giannitsas, Anastasios Athanasopoulos, Department of Urology, Patras University Hospital, Patras University, 26500 Patras, Greece
Author contributions: Giannitsas K and Athanasopoulos A contributed equally to this paper.
Correspondence to: Anastassios Athanasopoulos, Professor, Department of Urology, Urodynamic Urology Unit, Patras University Hospital, Patras University, Panepistimioupoli, 26500 Patras, Achaia, Greece. tassos_athan@hotmail.com
Telephone: +30-2610-999364 Fax: +30-2610-994668
Received: October 1, 2013
Revised: November 14, 2013
Accepted: December 9, 2013
Published online: February 10, 2014
Revised: November 14, 2013
Accepted: December 9, 2013
Published online: February 10, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Recent data suggest that desmopressin in its oral formulations offers significant improvements in nocturia as well as daytime storage symptoms in female patients. The treatment rationale for nocturia is that nocturnal polyuria due to inadequate antidiuresis is a major contributing factor to nocturia. In the case of daytime storage symptoms, desmopressin taken on demand can postpone their manifestation by delaying bladder filling. Desmopressin is well tolerated and the risk of hyponatremia is low with appropriate dosing, based on a lower minimum effective dose in females compared to males.